Colorado Buffaloes Basketball Falls to Iowa State
The Colorado Buffaloes traveled t0 Sioux Falls, North Dakota to take on seventh-ranked Iowa State.
The Colorado Buffaloes kicked off the start of the men’s basketball season by traveling to Sioux Falls to take on one of the best teams in the country, seventh-ranked Iowa State. Iowa State comes off of a 25-9 (12-6 in conference) season that led to a tie for second place in the Big-12. The Cyclones earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament; however, they exited early after being upset by UAB in the second round. Iowa State finished the 2014-2015 season ranked number nine in the nation (AP Poll).
The Colorado Buffaloes basketball season did not go as well as they hoped in 2014-2015. They finished the season with a losing record of 16-18 (7-11 in conference), tied for eighth place in the Pac-12. The Buffaloes received an invitation to the College Basketball Invitational after the conclusion of the season. After beating Gardner-Webb in the first round, CU lost to Seattle in the second round, ending their disappointing season.
However, this season, the Colorado Buffaloes look to right the ship, with hopes of reclaiming a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Buffaloes had a tough test in the first game of their season, a neutral court matchup against the Iowa State Cyclones. Despite the Cyclones entering the 2015-2016 season as the seventh ranked team in the nation, they start the season with a new head coach, Steve Prohm. Fred Hoiberg accepted the head coaching position for the Chicago Bulls after last season, ending his tenure with the Cyclones.
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Tad Boyle enters his sixth season with the Colorado Buffaloes, and they look like a better team than last season’s team. Senior forward Josh Scott leads the Buffaloes’ team heading into the 2015-2016 season, and Scott comes off of an impressive 2014-2015 season that saw him register 14.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. In turn, Georges Niang leads an impressive Iowa State Cyclones team. With the Buffs and Cyclones set to meet in the season opener, we had the chance to see what the two teams have to offer.
Iowa State controlled the first half of the game, entering half time up 30-25 over the Colorado Buffaloes. The Buffaloes presented a tough matchup for the Cyclones; however, their valiant effort proved to not be enough, as they were outscored in the second half as well (38-37). The Cyclones ended up winning the opening game of the season by a score of 68-62, but the Buffaloes proved that they have an improved team from a year ago. Georges Niang led the Cyclones with 17 points.
Josh Scott powered the Colorado Buffaloes with a double-double to open the season, finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds in 34 minutes of play. In order for the Buffaloes to be a force in the Pac-12, Scott must provide solid numbers night-in, night-out. Despite the loss to the Cyclones, the Buffaloes look to be a potential contender in the Pac-12. They will look to get in the win column Tuesday (11/17) on the road against the Auburn Tigers.